The CDC has announced that sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates continue to climb sharply in the United States. STD occurrence has been notably on the rise since 2010.

According to the CDC’s 2015 STD Surveillance Report:

There were approximately 1.5 million reported cases of chlamydia infections (up 5.9 percent from 2014)

Syphilis infections rose by 19 percent since 2014.

Gonorrhea cases increased by almost 13 percent since 2014.

The increases concern health officials because these diseases are mostly preventable if sexually active people practice safer sex with their sexual partners. And they are easily treatable if people have access to health care.
Anyone of any age can get an STD (more accurately referred to as a sexually transmitted infection, or STI, because it’s possible to be infected without developing any signs or symptoms). But the biggest increase in infections is among young people between the ages of 15 and 24. In fact, 15-to-24-year-olds account for half of all new STD infections.

Infection rates are also high among men who have sex with men. Of significant concern is the fact that among gay and bisexual men, 50 percent of the men diagnosed with syphilis in 2015 were also HIV-positive.

Talking STD’s with a casual sexual partner is never easy, but the 5 point elevator pitch can help ease the tension, make the talk easier and possibly make the sexual encounter more pleasurable.

Join Dr. Victoria Hartmann and Rev. Phil Sano for this monthly informative talk on Hook-Up Culture, Ethical Non-Mongamy and how to navigate the “STD talk”.